Monotone Games: A Unified Approach to Games with Strategic Complements and Substitutes

This Palgrave Pivot examines monotone games, which involve multiple players and have incentives and outcomes that affect each other in particular ways. It explores strategic complements, which have codirectional incentives, and strategic substitutes, which have contradirectional incentives. The book develops the theory of monotone games in a unified manner and presents many applications across various disciplines. It identifies unifying threads across different cases and shows how newer results are related to or different from previous results.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 165 pages
Publication date: 27 October 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This Palgrave Pivot delves into the realm of monotone games, exploring the intricate dynamics of incentives and outcomes when multiple players are involved. It examines how the decisions made by each player impact the well-being of others in distinct ways. Games with strategic complements feature codirectional incentives, where players are motivated to move in the same direction as their counterparts. On the other hand, games with strategic substitutes exhibit contradirectional incentives, where players are driven to take actions that oppose the movements of others. Within the realm of monotone games, a diverse spectrum of players exists. Some players are incentivized to align their actions with those of others, while others are motivated to diverge from their paths. This interplay of incentives creates a rich tapestry of strategic interactions and decision-making processes.

The book aims to develop a comprehensive theory of monotone games, providing a fresh and unified perspective on this complex subject. It showcases numerous applications across a wide range of disciplines, including biology, business, computer science, economics, mathematics, medicine, philosophy, political science, and psychology. By identifying common threads that unite different cases, the book facilitates a deeper understanding of monotone games and their implications. It sheds light on how newer results align with or diverge from previous findings, enabling readers to grasp these concepts within the broader framework of monotone games.

In conclusion, this Palgrave Pivot offers a comprehensive exploration of monotone games, shedding light on the interplay of incentives, outcomes, and strategic interactions among multiple players. Through its theoretical development, applications, and insightful analysis, the book provides valuable insights into a diverse array of disciplines and fosters a deeper understanding of complex decision-making processes.

Weight: 244g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030455156
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021